THE DARK KNIGHT RISES to Film in Bucharest? [Update: Filming “At Least Partially in Los Angeles”]

Following yesterday’s huge Batman news that Anne Hathaway has been cast as Selina Kyle and Tom Hardy will be playing Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, comes word that director Christopher Nolan may be shooting some of the film in Bucharest. Nolan is known for favoring actual locations rather than filming on backlots/stages (Inception alone was filmed on three different continents), so this news really isn’t all that surprising. And yet, it’s Batman news, so it’s immediately 500% more interesting.

The Bucharest Mayor said that the film’s producers had recently met with city officials to discuss filming. The Romania Business Insider (via SuperHeroHype) reports that filming may take place in Bucharest’s historical center, Edgar Quintet Street or the Palace of Parliament. The report also says that Nolan visited the Turda salt mines in Romania last month, though the visit was “unofficial.” So what does all of this mean? Speculate away, Bat-fans! The Dark Knight Rises is due out July 20, 2012.

[Update: The LA Times reports Warner Bros. has set up a production office in Los Angeles Center Studios, and will film “at least partially in Los Angeles”]